{"id":384,"date":"2009-08-24T10:15:10","date_gmt":"2009-08-24T13:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hr-pros.ca\/?p=384"},"modified":"2009-09-28T10:35:51","modified_gmt":"2009-09-28T13:35:51","slug":"who-is-making-minimum-wageis-raising-minimum-wage-good-social-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hr-pros.ca\/fr\/who-is-making-minimum-wageis-raising-minimum-wage-good-social-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is Making Minimum Wage?Is Raising Minimum Wage Good Social Policy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0In a previous post<\/a>, we discussed the impact that an increase in minimum wage would have on employers.\u00a0 Let\u2019s now turn our attention to the employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the arguments for raising the minimum wage to even higher level is that at current level, the minimum wage does not provide an adequate level of income.\u00a0 Someone supporting themselves fully and earning minimum wage would earn far less than is required to support a family of four.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Statistics Canada, in its Perspective on Labour and Income<\/em> (March 2004 and January 2009 issues) provides comprehensive analysis and descriptions of minimum wage workers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Table 1 compares employment figures for 2003 and 2008.\u00a0 We see a larger increase in the number of employees earning minimum wage than the overall increase in employment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 1 Minimum Wage Earners in 2003 and 2008<\/strong><\/td>\n\n

2003<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2008<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Total Employees<\/td>\n\n

13,333,200<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14,496,200<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Employees Min Wage<\/td>\n\n

547,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

751,400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Percentage of Earning Min Wage<\/td>\n\n

4.1%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 2 shows the distribution of minimum wage earners across age groups.\u00a0 We note an increase of minimum at all ages but the largest proportion of minimum wage earners are youth employees.\u00a0 More than 45% of minimum wage earners are between 15 and 19 years of age.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 2 Age Distribution of Minimum Wage Earners<\/strong><\/td>\n\n

2003<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2008<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Employees Min Wage<\/td>\n\n

547,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

751,400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

15 to 19<\/td>\n\n

260,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

345,400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

20 to 24<\/td>\n\n

84,100<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

130,700<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

25 to 34<\/td>\n\n

60,100<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73,200<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

35 to 44<\/td>\n\n

57,200<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

68,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

45 to 55<\/td>\n\n

50,400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

76,800<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

55 and over<\/td>\n\n

35,200<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

57,300<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Supporters of minimum wage say it increases the living standards of workers and decrease poverty.\u00a0 Opponents of minimum way maintain that if it is high enough to be effective it increases unemployment, particularly among inexperienced workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Arguably, some teenagers will make contributions to their overall family income.\u00a0 However, most teenagers work to earn spending money for themselves or to contribute to their education.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In other words, it would appear that the overall social benefit of increasing the minimum wage is to put more money in the hands of spending youth.<\/p>\n

Considering 45% of those making minimum wage are youth between 15 and 19 years-of-age do you believe that raising the minimum wage is good social policy?<\/p>\n

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Is raising the minimum wage a good social policy?<\/strong><\/p>